TUCSON, Ariz. -- On Thursday night, the Tucson Police Department hosted a forum for the public called "Harden the Target." The goal was to educate the public on how to prevent property crime during the summer.
Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus and Ward 3 Council Member Paul Durham, along with other officers, spoke to the public about crime statistics and how to keep thieves at bay.
One suggestion is adding lighting to the outside of your home and keeping your yard in good condition to reduce cover and stop easy access to thieves.
"Anytime we can bring people together with the police department and talk about reduction how to work together more effectively all of that's good, " Chief Magnus said
Experts say don't leave garage doors open, stop mail delivery when you're out of town and double-check windows and doors. Another tip is to keep your shades closed when you're gone. Another thing is to not announce your vacation plans on social media and leave a TV or radio on while you're out.
"Harden the target we want to prevent easy ways of access to a home or a car," Durham said
Ring and ADT security representatives were also on hand to give information on security measures.
According to the FBI, there were more than 1. 4 million burglaries reported in the U.S. in 2017. TPD says burglaries in Tucson are down by 35% compared to the same time last year.
